Youngest Staal brother expected to make NHL debut on Thursday

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team will recall right wing Jared Staal from the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). Earlier today, center Riley Nash and forward Tim Wallace were reassigned to the Checkers, who begin the Calder Cup Playoffs with Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in Oklahoma City on Friday.

Staal, 22, has appeared in 52 games with Charlotte this season, posting four goals, three assists (7 points) and 25 penalty minutes. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native is in his fifth professional season, and has totaled 18 points and 49 penalty minutes in 119 career AHL games with San Antonio, Providence and Charlotte. Staal (6’4”, 200 lbs.) was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Hurricanes acquired Staal on May 13, 2010, in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. He is the younger brother of Hurricanes centers Eric Staal and Jordan Staal, and has yet to make his NHL debut.